.. The dummies set the fines for dumping people into the exchanges far too low . if those idiots had been thinking , they would have set the fees for the “fines” for putting employees into the exchanges at a far higher level , and then index them to inflation . Now , those dummies are reaping the fruits of the consequences , not thinking about how the market would react to ObamaCrapCare . Thus , the law of unintended consequences continues to strike .

.. You add that , onto the reductions in working hours because of ObamaCrapCare , you get what is happening now . It was eminently and easily forseeable . If only those markets understood the markets , and how that they really worked . But nooooooooo …. . Nice going , Dumb – Dumbs !!

.. Also , the ObamaCraps had publically run exchanges in mind . They would be ones run by the states themselves , or by regional entities , or by non – profits . What they did not want and did not expect was that there would be for – profit exchanges out there .

.. Also , Walgreens is doing this by what is called “defined contribution.” A defined contribution (D.C.) plan basically lets the insured have their choice of insured plans , in this case within the privately – run exchange that Walgreens has chosen for them . Also , Walgreens is attempting to limit their health insurance exposure . The “fine” for non – participation is so loooow that it is worth it to them to have the employees go to the privately run exchange for their health insurance choices . The D.C. helps protect them from the increasing cost of medicine by going to this privately – run for – profit exchange .

.. Quite clever by Walgreens . And not what the ObamaCraps had in mind …

.. POTUS should get some kind of award for the bad taste stunt of the year . With all of the stuff going on in D.C. , POTUS picks one hell of a bad time to deliver a hyper – partisan speech . Right in the middle of an on-going crisis , no less .

.. Dr. Charles Krauthammer has , in his usual masterful and succinct style , nailed him for it …

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: The president in that speech was back to hyper-partisan mode, slashing attack on Republicans. At one point he is speaking of the Republicans, he said, ‘and some of them are decent.’ Quite a remarkable thing for a president to say if you expect any cooperation. And to do this within minutes of 13 Naval employees, brave Americans lying dead, I thought was in extremely bad taste. He could have waited until tomorrow. It isn’t as if this is a holy anniversary, he could have spoken later in the week which is the week that marks the fifth year of the crisis.

And on Syria, he said, having dealt with the Syrian issue, which is another farce. He has opened up a can of worms. There is no way we’re going to disarm Syria. This is a fig leaf, it’s nothing more.

.. all White House Press Secretaries have made blunders . Hopefully , they do not make big ones . There are times that those big ones may well get someone fired , or worse , someone else killed . The pressure on those who do this job is unique , and quite intense . So , a screw – up once in a while is understandible …

.. However , Jay Carney is a first – class royal screwup . A screw – up ‘ s screwup . Considering his distinguised (at least fairly) as a

Logo of the United States White House, especially in conjunction with offices like the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

newswriter and investigative journalist , principally at Time Magazine , you figured he would have been much better prepared . Especially , considering who he is married to (ABC and former CNN corresponder Claire Shipman) .

.. Boy , was today a bad day for JayBoy . You have to see this to believe it , but I will throw in the text in advance , so that you all will know what is coming …

[link] [h/t– RealClearPolitics]
ED HENRY: You mentioned at the top about the shooting and the president offered his thoughts and prayers and he pushed back his statement to allow the D.C. mayor and the police chief to talk about what they said was an active manhunt. There may be other shooters, they weren’t sure. They didn’t have all the facts, etc.

Why then did the president go ahead with what became a series of attacks on Republicans about the health care law, about, you know, the debt-ceiling fight, etc? Tonally, did it not seem a little bit off in the middle of this manhunt, people being informed about lives lost to move forward with an attack on the other side?

JAY CARNEY: Well, Ed, I think he addressed at the top of his speech about the five-year anniversary [of the 2008 financial crisis] and the need to make sure that we as a nation do not make mistakes, we as Washington do not make mistakes and, you know, reverse the progress that we have achieved. And I think that’s an important thing for the president to talk about. It’s an important thing for Congress to talk about and act on. And it’s entirely appropriate, today, for the president to talk about that.

We face, as the president noted, some looming deadlines. Congress needs to act. It has some very clear top-line responsibilities. Fund the government, pass bills that pay for the activities of the United States government. They insisted on a process whereby budgets were passed in the Senate and the House and now Republicans have blocked the process of reconciliation. They insisted on a process where the president would put forward his proposals that included compromise on things like entitlements. The president has done that. We’ve yet to see a counter-offer many, many, many months later.

So, time is short. We need to address these challenges. It is also true that we have an unfolding situation here in Washington with regards to the violent action and shootings and it’s entirely appropriate for the president to address that at the top of his remarks.

White House press secretary Jay Carney reiterated President Obama’s desire to pass gun control…
White House press secretary Jay Carney reiterated President Obama’s desire to pass gun control legislation, though he sounded cautious about appearing to use the Navy Yard shooting to political advantage.

“[I]t is far too early to say anything about who did this and the broader meaning of it,” Carney told reporters, per a live transcription. “When it comes to common sense legislation to reduce gun violence, the president has been very clear,” Carney added, recalling Obama’s frustration with congressional leaders who voted down a gun proposal in March.

The comments came under repeated questioning from American Urban Radio’s April Ryan.

“That was a shame and we will continue to work to take action to improve gun safety, to reduce gun violence in this country through executive action and, hopefully, Congress will work to reduce gun violence as well,” he said.

Ryan pressed him about gun control in a follow-up. “Jay, you say it’s far too early, and I understand that, but we do know for a fact that these were shooting deaths, and going down that seven: Fort Hood, Binghamton, Tuscon, Aurora, Oak Creek, Newtown, and the Navy Yard now.”

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“And countless other deaths, as you know April, countless other deaths, and this is why we should take action to reduce gun violence, we should take common sense action supported by Americans from every part of the country,” Carney replied.

.. you think that Barack Obama would land some sense of decency , dignity , or reason for dealing with a crisis situation . He has had 5 years (almost) in office to figure it out . Well , guess what ??

.. You would guess wrong .

.. POTUS pulled a real boner out of his hat , today . One would think that he would pull his partisan punches , especially with the Navy Yard shooting just a short distance away . Well , He did not …

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Although ultimately our success will depend on all the innovation and hard work of our private sector, all the grit and resilience of the American people, government is going to have a critical role in making sure we have an education system that prepares our children and our workers for a global economy. The budget Congress passes will determine whether we can hire more workers to upgrade our transportation and communications networks or fund the kinds of research and development that have always kept America on the cutting edge. So what happens here in Washington makes a difference. What happens up on Capitol Hill will help determine not only the pace of our growth, but also the quality of jobs, the quality of opportunity, for this generation and future generations.

The problem is, at the moment, Republicans in Congress don’t seem to be focused on how to grow the economy and build the middle class. I say ‘at the moment’ because I am still hoping that a light bulb goes off here. So far, their budget ideas revolve primarily around even deeper cuts to education. Even deeper cuts that would gut the scientific research and development. Even deeper cuts to America’s infrastructure investment. Our roads, bridges, schools, and energy grid. These are not the policies that would grow the economy faster. They are not the policies that would help grow the middle class. In fact, they do the opposite.

.. horrendous for our military services (Navy & Marines , in particular) who work at the facility , also the civilians (likely quite a few)

.. logo of Naval Sea Systems Cmnd …

who are there , just going about things and doing their normal business …

.. wake – up call , considering the close quarters in D.C. (near Nationals Park , less than a mile to the Capitol , about 2.5 miles to the White House complex) , and the tens of thousands of tourists , civilians , and others , going about their normal business , and , yet they hear about this ?? …

.. makes people think twice about security , including our nation ‘ s security , that more attention and resources should be devoted to it . politicians should pay more attention to the subjects …

.. may God bless Those folks (our fellow citizens) many of whom devote their lives and careers to our nation ‘ s defense , and to their families , for the numerous sacrifices that that service entails …

.. D.C. is federal turf , especially the shooting is at a military installation , which is definitely federal ground , throw the book at them , include the death penalty (for the surviving scumbags , if any) …

.. Our Nation ‘ s Capital does not need to be an armed camp , yet we need to pay much more attention to security . A good number of those in that military facility were likely armed , and may well have helped to bring the scumbag down …

… Nats – Braves has been rescheduled … understandible … too close to the Yard , if I understand it right …

Nationals Park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

… also , I-295 & I-395 run right by the area . Stay out of there , it is an active crime scene , only go in there if absolutely necessary …

.. and , if he did , Obama should be impeached , This is in regards to the proposed diplomatic deal between Russia and the U.S. as regards Syria .

.. The threat of force must remain on the table . Even as much as a wuss as he is , I do not think that POTUS would be as stupid as he might be to concede the use of our country ‘ s armed forces to the Russians , or to their judgement . Somehow , I do not think that he would be that dumb ….

.. Also , I do not think , as much as they might like to , that Mutt and Jeff [POTUS , SecState JohnBoy] would give the Russians an indirect veto , via the U.N. , and the U.N. Security Council . The levers of the so – called ” International Law ” do not restrict the ability of the United States , or of any nation , to respond to such an action as has occured in Syria . If our nation ‘ s leadership decides that it should respond , even without Congressional consent , then they can . Morally , whether they should do so it would be another question …

— Russia would have veto power over the use of military force to punish Syrian dictator Bashar Assad if he uses or retains some of his chemical weapons stockpiles.

“And of course, in these approaches agreed on, there is nothing said about the use of force, not about any automatic sanctions we – as I said, all violations should be approved in the Security Council convincingly,” Lavrov said in his opening statement during a press conference Saturday with Kerry.

“Of course, it does not mean that every violation that will be reported to the Security Council will be taken by word,” Lavrov said when a reporter asked for clarification on the threat of force.

“Of course, we will investigate every case, because there are a lot of false information, pieces of information in the world, and we should be very cautious about every fact. And when we are sure, 100 percent, then we in the Russian Federation will be ready to adopt new resolution of the Security Council to embed the measures to punish the perpetrators of this violation, and it’s nonsense to continue the speculations on the matter today.”

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If Lavrov’s comments during the briefing are any indication, the Russians will be skeptical of any evidence presented by foreign leaders.

“I told you very sincerely that we are very worried with the attempts to frustrate any efforts aimed at calming down the situation at – avoiding certain and removing certain aspects of the Syrian conflict, including the efforts that were taken together with John today,” Lavrov said, before accusing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of offering false evidence.

“And then it occurred that there was some film production and there was false information and they were not related together, all this information,” he said. “And if it’s – it was not just a full mistake, because the meeting was closed, and if it’s not – if it was not just a joke, but it was just an attempt to frustrate our meeting here in Geneva together with John Kerry, and they did not manage, thank God.”

Kerry downplayed the significance of the arrangement. “[T]here is an agreement between Russia and the United States that noncompliance is going to be held accountable within the Security Council under Chapter 7,” he acknowledged.

“What remedy is chosen is subject to the debate within the council, which is always true, but there’s a commitment to impose measures,” Kerry continued. “And as Sergey knows, under any circumstances, there would be a debate in the Security Council, even now. So there’s no diminishment, there’s no diminution of option.

“And it’s impossible, obviously, under these circumstances, to have a pre-agreement as to what that specific sanction might or might not be for circumstances that we don’t even know yet. Our hope is that we have a tight enough regimen that is agreed upon, as we have said, in the extraordinary measures that we have laid out.”

.. POTUS is an arrogant bastard . He thinks that he can dictate terms of debate , as well as the terms of the bill that will reach his desk . It could not be further from the truth than that , that is for sure …

[-] the Senate — the GOP has 45 members . Unlike Illinois , where the GOP was a bunch of mindnumbed robots , the D.C. crowd is one of a different ilk . Just ask Dingy Harry Reid . Any deal will have problems passing , because Dingy Harry ‘ s power will start to ebb , once the cats realize he will not be the boss of the corral after next November …

[-] the House — any bill has to be passed by a majority of the majority . Boehner can do the math . He also knows that the GOP is likely to strengthen its numbers , and with the uproar over the Tea Party targeting , you can bet there will be more of them in the next Congress . POTUS will just love that . He will also have to accept the fact that he will have to negotiate , whether he likes it or not …

[-] the financial markets — they are not going to be wild about this , that is sure . However , with a weak President , the GOP is going to press what advantages it has for whatever it can get . it also does not have to worry about an “automatic” tax increase burrowed into things , like the last time ..

[-] the Fed Chairman — the markets are going to be far more worried about who the next Fed Chairman (or , Chairwoman) will be . They have to be concerned about the possibility that the inflation genie could get out of the bottle . They would prefer an inflationary hard – case as the chair . The House is out of it on this , but not the Senate . The 45 GOP members , plus the nervous Dems up next year can and will push POTUS to appoint one . Since Larry Summers has evidently withdrawn from consideration , do not expect Janet Yellen to get the nod , either . She is an inflation dove , one that the markets will not like . Obama is pigheaded and arrogant , but , hopefully , not that stupid . A short bear market will likely kill off Yellen .

[-] Mitch McConnell — He is likely to be the chief deal – maker . He is usually pretty good at math , and he will know what can pass , and at what price .

[-] taxes — No tax increases will pass , with either GOP caucus , no matter how much POTUS wants them . The last time , the GOP had an automatic one scheduled in pressuring them . Not this time . Tax cuts , unfortunately , not likely , either . POTUS will want higher rates & / or tax monies as part of any deal , and unless he gets a “bath of cold water” and grows up , there will not be any change in taxes or rates .

[-] Max Baucus — He is the chair of the Senate Finance Cmte , and can be very unpredictable . Baucus is a wild card , since he is retiring , and the GOP is likely to grab his seat , Tim Johnson ‘ s [SD] , and Jay Rockefeller [WV] . That is half of the GOP ‘ s battle . Mark Pryor in Ar is likely a “dead man walking” and Mary Landrieux in LA will try her best , but will likely have trouble holding on .

.. when you are trying to dig yourself out of a diplomatic mess , you generally want to try to make sure that your agreement is believable and credible . Evidently , Mutt and Jeff (POTUS and SecState) have come up with a whopper of a stinker . They think that this so – called agreement covering Syria and its chemical weapons , involving the Assad government and Russia , is anything remotely believable and credible ?

.. Hell , no . It is for several reasons :

[-] lack of consistent policy — our National Command Authority is supposed to set a reasonable idea of policy in an area . It may not be ideal , but it helps to be consistent . POTUS ‘ entire idea of foreign policy is grossly inconsistent , at best …

[-] lack of consistent message — even when there is some idea of a policy , the message behind that policy is , at best , a disorganized muddled mess . That is no way to communicate to either friends or foes . Both need to understand what is going on …

[-] lack of leadership — No , you do not lead from behind . You lead from the Front , you damn idiots . You have to set policy , communicate it , and take responsibility for it …

[-] lack of resolution — even when things get ” dark and grey , ” you stick to your guns . Do not be a ” Wuss …. ”

… from Newsmax …

Bolton: Syrian Pact ‘Will Die a Death by a Thousand Cuts’

Saturday, 14 Sep 2013 07:47 PM

Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton predicted on Saturday that the agreement reached between the United States and Russia on destroying Syria’s chemical weapons “will die a death by a thousand cuts.”

Syrian President Bashar Assad “is required to make his initial declaration on Friday,” Bolton, a senior fellow with the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, told Fox News. “It’ll slip a few days, or maybe a few more. Maybe the first declaration won’t be full and complete, and it’ll have to be amended. And, then, it’ll have to be amended again.

“You can see the impact of this as time goes on, and I think that’s exactly what the strategy is.”

Urgent: Who is Right on Syria – Obama or Putin? Vote in Urgent Poll

Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the agreement earlier Saturday after three days of talks in Geneva.

The agreement requires Syria to submit a “comprehensive listing” of its chemical weapons stockpiles within a week. Arms inspectors must be on the ground in Syria by November, with the goal of eliminating the country’s chemical weapons by the middle of next year.

But the accord contains nothing about the potential use of force if Syria fails to comply — and Kerry said that no pre-agreement existed on what action the U.N. Security Council might take if Syria failed to comply with the plan.

“One of the fine ironies here is that we have agreed with Russia, which has been in violation itself of the Chemical Weapons Convention since the treaty came into force [in 1993],” Bolton told Fox. “Most experts agree that Russia did not make its own full and complete declaration of its chemical weapons stockpiles in the mid-1990s, and many believe that Russia has been in violation of the treaty, developing new generations of chemical weapons.

“So the notion that Russia is going to vouch for Bashar al-Assad is almost comical,” he concluded. “You can’t make this stuff up.”

Further, he attacked some of the language in the agreement.

“It says that the Security Council will take measures ‘commensurate’ with the violations,” Bolton noted. “Well, that word means anything you want it to mean — and you can bet that in a debate in the Security Council, it will go on for quite some time.”

But, more importantly, President Barack Obama has been greatly helped by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The president is very grateful to President Putin. He got him out of an impossible dilemma,” Bolton said. “I don’t think the president himself wants to use force. Now, he will never have to — and he himself said, the longer time goes by from the August 21 use of chemical weapons, the harder it would be to generate the emotion necessary to get the support for the use of force.”

The White House has said that more than 1,400 people, including over 400 children, were killed in the chemical weapons attacks on rebel-held suburbs of Damascus on Aug. 21. The Obama administration has since shown gruesome pictures to Congress of Syrians suffering and dying from the attacks in making its case for military strikes.

Urgent: Who is Right on Syria – Obama or Putin? Vote in Urgent Poll

“The idea that you couldn’t get the support in Congress to use force against Assad after those pictures means that, nonetheless, you’ll be able to get congressional approval because Syria violated this agreement?” Bolton asked. “It’s a delusion — and so is [Obama’s] Syria policy generally.”

.. I thought that I had heard of everything , in terms of ecosocialism . Well , guess what . I was wrong .

.. It seems that the geniuses at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are making their own contribution to Obama and his ecosocialist power – grab . With this , these dummies want to try to convince farmers of how to best manage their “green footprint” and try to minimize it . Guys and Gals , these farmers are trying to make the most money from their crops . They are also trying to take care of their lands , rotate crops , and whatever other steps will help them . They could hardly give a damn about their “green footprint.” Maybe some do . Most do not ….

.. from Newsmax …

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking to advance President Barack Obama’s climate-change agenda with the establishment of seven regional climate hubs — none of which the nation’s farmers are asking for.

The hubs will serve as regional centers that will give advice to farmers about which crops are best suited for a changing climate and how best to reduce their carbon footprint. But critics say the hubs add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy, while farmers fear additional government intrusion into their private operations.

The USDA push for the climate hubs continues Obama’s first term objectives and advances the “national climate action plan” he outlined in a major policy speech June 25 at Georgetown University.

“Farmers see crops wilted one year, washed away the next; and the higher food prices get passed on to you, the American consumer,” Obama said as he listed problems he said stemmed from climate change.

Stymied by Congressional inaction in his first term, Obama is now directing federal agencies to take actions that don’t require approval from Congress. At Georgetown, Obama said he directed the Environmental Protection Agency to enact new pollution standards for power plants and the Department of the Interior to open up public lands to permit renewable energy projects.

The USDA is doing its part to further the president’s goal, saying the climate hubs will “provide accessible regional data and

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said on June 5 “the hubs will enable us to carry out regionally appropriate climate-change risk … and get data out to the field more quickly. Practically, the hubs will deal out advice to farmers and forest owners on ways to reduce risks and manage change.”

But critics wonder why the hubs are even needed.

“That is just symptomatic of the attitude in Washington — that farmers and ranchers … are too stupid to maximize their efficiency is something that really boggles the mind,” Patrick J. Michaels, director of the Center for the Study of Science at the Cato Institute, told Newsmax.

“If it gets hot and dry, corn culture will switch to sorghum culture. And the amount of protein and carbohydrate in sorghum is almost exactly the same in amount and quality as it is in corn. They don’t need the USDA to tell them that,” Michaels said.

Michaels said there are already federal services that gather such information.

“That’s what the agricultural extension service is for,” Michaels said. “Why are we having to put another layer of bureaucracy in this? You call up Virginia Tech if you’re in Virginia, and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got a little issue here,’ and somebody will get you to the right person.”

Bill Hohenstein, director of USDA’s Climate Change Program in the Office of the Chief Economist, dismissed many of the concerns raised about the climate hubs.

“In fact, we’re not trying to create a new layer of bureaucracy,” Hohenstein said. “What we’re trying to do is utilize the existing infrastructure,” including the agriculture extensions, the land-grand universities, state conservation offices, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Farm Service Administration field offices.

Hohenstein said additional expertise about climate change was needed by federal officials dealing with the agricultural sector.

“The experts in the field don’t know a lot about climate change. They don’t know what type of advice to give farmers in terms of how to manage to reduce risks from climate change,” Hohenstein said.

Hohenstein noted there were benefits to global warming for agriculture, including longer growing seasons, some regions of the country getting more moisture, and new cropping opportunities for some areas.

“The interesting thing about how climate change plays out in agriculture, it’s not simply negative consequences, it’s looking at everything in balance,” he said. While CO2 is a greenhouse gas, “it’s also essential to plant growth, and higher CO2 … can cause increases in productivity.”

However, farmers are skeptical about the climate-change program and need more information about the hubs.

“Agricultural resources and the tools are important, but does USDA need a climate hub, I don’t know,” said Andrew Walmsley, director of Congressional relations with the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C., told Newsmax. “There hasn’t been clear explanation to our members on exactly how these hubs are going to operate and what is the need for them.”

USDA closed “an internal competition” to determine which facilities would hold the hubs on August 21, and the will announce its selections in mid-to-late October, Hohenstein said. “They will all be at existing locations,” he added.

Part of the USDA’s efforts includes its online Carbon Management and Evaluation Tool (COMET-Farm) which, according to Vilsack, will “help farmers understand the greenhouse gas footprints of their operations.”

With COMET-Farm, producers “will input information about their land and current and past management practices to establish a baseline. The tool will let them select from a list of alternative conservation practices to see how each one changes their greenhouse gas emissions and carbon capture,” he said.

COMET-Farm can help producers and “serve as a gateway for future efforts to help producers participate in voluntary carbon markets,” Vilsack said.

Many agricultural producers are wary of government intrusions into their operations, fearing that what at first may be offered as unasked for help could turn into something more.

The Farm Bureau Federation is “opposed to regulatory-type stuff, cap-and-trade, carbon tax,” Walmsley said. “I think there’s definitely concerns, too, when you look at the document USDA released last week on looking at a carbon footprint of a farm or your emissions.”

“I think there’s a concern from our folks that we’re not being regulated now, but USDA is … putting these pieces together. Who knows where we’ll be in the future?” Walmsley said. “If we’re getting down to a farm-level emission-type, how can that possibly be used against us?”

Walmsley said, “We don’t necessarily want any more government, we don’t want folks telling us how to farm, and any more intrusion. That’s the double-edged sword, and I think that’s where some of the concern might be going forward, especially with some of this carbon-calculator and on-farm-type level of analysis.”

.. yea , this is serious . Normally , you would go and get your expert advice from a C.P.A. , a tax consultant , or a tax expert who is a tax lawyer . You get it from the private sector . Now , if you have political connections , you just might end up getting a little higher level of assistance . But this high ?

.. I am talking about the actions of the Congressional Black Caucus . They ended up getting some serious high – level help ,

English: Douglas Shulman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

indeed . Say , like the Commissioner of the I.R.S. , Douglas Shulman , and the Attorney General of the United States , Eric Holder . One might think , why ?

.. These folks are tasked with the enforcement of the law . They end up giving aid and assistance of a political nature to ministers and to churches , and they get it on , basically , how to “effectively evade” the law . Their advice tells the ministers and the churches where and how far that they can go without breaking the law during a political campaign …

Eric Holder, IRS officials coached tax-exempt black ministers on how to engage in political activity

Posted By Patrick Howley On 3:21 PM 09/13/2013 In Politics | No Comments

Attorney General Eric Holder and IRS officials advised black ministers on how to engage in political activity during the 2012 election without violating their tax-exempt status.

Holder, then-IRS commissioner Douglas Shulman, and Peter Lorenzetti, a senior official in the scandal-plagued agency’s exempt organizations division, participated in a May 2012 training session for black ministers from the Conference of National Black Churches at the U.S. Capitol hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Holder spoke at the event.

“We’re going to, first of all, equip them with the information they need to know about what they can say and what they cannot

say in the church that would violate their 501(c)(3) status with the IRS,” said then-CBC chairman Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri. “In fact, we’re going to have the IRS administrator there. We’re going to have Attorney General Eric Holder there…the ACLU.”

As The Daily Caller has extensively reported, the IRS harassed conservative and tea party groups during the 2012 election cycle with improper reviews of their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt applications.

“[The CBC] had the IRS members there specifically to advise them on how far to go campaigning without violating their tax-exempt status,” George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told The Daily Caller.

“I viewed the meeting as highly problematic. Eric Holder heads the agency that prosecutes organizations who give false information to the government. The Justice Department coordinates with the IRS on actions taken against not-for-profits. These ministries are given not-for-profit status on the basis that they are not engaging in any political activities. Here, the Obama administration was clearly encouraging them to maximize their efforts by showing them where the lines were drawn in federal case law,” Turley said.

“It is a fundamental precept that cabinet members should not engage in political activities. The most important of those cabinet members would be the attorney general of the United States. To have the attorney general actively advising political allies of the president showed remarkably poor judgment on his part,” Turley told TheDC.

“I believe this session undermined the integrity of the justice department, signaled to other Justice Department officials that the attorney general wants to support these black ministries as much as possible,” Turley said.

Obama won 93 percent of the black vote in 2012, according to exit polling.

“This event was open to all faiths, denominations, colors, creeds, and political affiliations,” Rep. Cleaver told TheDC in a statement. “We were pleased to have leaders from our government provide information on compliance with the law and participation in our electoral system.”

.. Once again His Holiness , Pope Francis , has made headlines , this time for his supposedly radical op-ed comments on the

St. Peter’s Basilica at Early Morning (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

possible salvation of non-believers. The stunning revelation: Non-believers can be saved if they act according to their consciences.

.. There is nothing radical or new about his words in terms of Church teaching . The media is also making a big deal out of this , as you might think . Those knuckleheads have sensationalized his words in order to make them compatible with or approving of any worldview . It is quite the opposite .

.. Many of Pope Francis’s public statements on contentious topics have been construed as indicators of “change” within the church. A CNN blog piece from July 2013, reporting on Francis’s views on homosexuality, said that the pope’s words “indicated a change in tone, if not in teaching, in the church’s stance towards gays and lesbians more generally.” Championing Pope Francis as the great “modifier” or “tailor” of Church teaching on modern social issues is misguided, but many news services have fallen into this trap. These misguided hopes explain why a headline such as “Pope Assures Atheists: You Don’t Have to Believe in God to Go to Heaven” can create a media firestorm.

.. The title of the article is itself extremely misleading. To many it reads more like: “Everyone goes to Heaven regardless of what you believe,” when that is the opposite meaning of the message entirely : You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing – that God ’ s mercy has no limits , if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart . The issue is for those that do not believe in God is for them to obey their conscience.

.. The Holy Father has recognized a two – pronged question concerning those who do not believe and do not seek , but , tellingly, he probes the latter prong first . He begins by saying that seeking is the fundamental thing. If you are a sincere seeker of the truth , and your sure conscience paves you a path , then you must follow it . Nothing radical there . The caveat, however, is that no one follows his conscience perfectly , theist or atheist , but in both instances what is offered is the same : a possibility of salvation , not a guarantee . Hence , there is a need for a search.

… the Holy Father , Pope Francis I …

.. Once Francis establishes that necessity, “peaceful and constructive dialogue,” as he put it in his op-ed, is of capital importance. To avoid dialogue—to turn on autopilot—then, is to cease seeking the truth in a real way. Hence, what seeking the truth requires, inevitably and invariably, is dialogue with other human beings. Why Francis is perceived to be a groundbreaker in this regard isn’t clear.

.. Even in 1994, Pope John Paul II stated quite clearly, in his address to the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture,

that “[i]t would be appropriate to seek [non-belief’s] historical, cultural, social and intellectual causes, and at the same time to promote a respectful and open dialogue with those who do not believe in God or who profess no religion.” The same notions of “seek” and “dialogue,” in the context of non-belief, were promulgated 19 years ago, before both Francis and Benedict.

.. What is being treated in many circles as a novel and welcome advance by the Catholic Church—through Francis—into the 21st century . It is nothing more than a simple moral point . It is consistent with the thinking of both the pope ’ s predecessors , and that of good old – fashioned common sense.

[link] — this is a link to the english translation of the Papal Letter . It appeared originally in the Italian newspaper , Il Republica . Cue it up , and read it for yourself , and see what you think …

.. this bunch of ObamaCraps has been like a bunch of Keystone Kops , in that these days these seem to not be able to do anything right . It cannot get any worse , can it ?

.. Actually , believe it or not , yes , it can . It seems that the Department of Health and InHuman Services is seeking to ask for vast sums of information be gathered , and then be placed in the electronic form of our medical record . One might think , there is a great deal in there , already . No , not this stuff , evidently .

.. Ideally , one would think that the conversion to Electronic Health Records [E.H.R.s] would be voluntary , and market – based . Well , so far , it has not . People evidently want to make the investment in the technology , though , they just want to agree on a standard that everybody can live with .

..This is where the ObamaCraps have snuck their way in , and gotten their nose under the tent . Expecting that what would become ObamaCrapCare would eventually pass , these schucks put provisions into the Stimulus Bill . Supposedly , the conversion is still “voluntary,” but the government is now forcing the action . Providers will have their reimbursements docked 1 percent (or more) a year for those who do not comply . That is bad enough . Now , these idiots want to grab even more personal information from and through their health care providers , whether we like it or not .

Health care experts say the proposal raises additional privacy concerns over Americans’ personal health information, on top of worries that the Obamacare “data hub” could lead to abuse by bureaucrats and identify theft.

The CMS currently covers 100 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Hospital Insurance Program and is tasked with running Obamacare.

“Increasing EHR adoption has the potential to improve health and health care quality,” the contract’s statement of work (SOW) reads. “Parallel advances in analytic tools applied to such records are fueling new approaches to discovering determinants of population health.”

Health care professionals who began participating in the program in 2011 or 2012 can receive up to $44,000 for using EHRs for Medicare and $63,750 for Medicaid over 5 and 6 years, respectively.

Though the program is “totally voluntary,” eligible professionals who are not using EHRs by 2015 will see a 1 percent reduction in their Medicare and Medicaid fees each year.

Jacobs says the government’s “pay for conformance” culture in health care is “telling doctors what they have to do and how they have to do it in order to receive government reimbursement.”

The “meaningful use” program already requires doctors and hospitals to report the demographics of a patient and if he smokes to qualify for its first step. The second stage, planned for 2014, will require recording a patient’s family health history.

The National Academy of Sciences will make recommendations for adding social and behavioral data for stage three, which will be unveiled in 2016.

A spokesman for the CMS told the Washington Free Beacon that the agency is in the early stages of crafting the requirements for this stage.

“While we know that they are considering [clinical quality measures], it would allow a greater variety of specialties and procedures to be included,” said Tony Salters, a spokesman for CMS. “This includes items like behavioral health, dental care, drug, and alcohol use, etc.”

The CMS issued a “sole source” contract to the National Academy of Sciences because of “its caliber and expertise in the medical profession,” they said.

A spokeswoman for the National Academy of Sciences told the Free Beacon that the study began on July 15.

Working with the Institute of Medicine, a committee is currently drafting suggestions for collecting social and behavioral data.

The committee will “identify core social and behavioral domains to be included in all EHRs,” the organization said.

Not only will the committee come up with what behavioral data will be collected, they will also suggest how that data can be shared with public health departments.

The contract orders the committee to identify, “Possibilities for linking EHRs to public health departments, social service agencies, or other relevant non-health care organizations and case studies, if possible, of where this has been done and how issues of privacy have been addressed.”

The committee will also look at the “obstacles” to collecting social data for EHRs, and “how these obstacles can be overcome.”

Jacobs said the study is troubling in light of security issues with the Obamacare “data hub,” which will collect Social Security numbers and personal information to verify participation in the health insurance marketplace, beginning on Oct. 1.

“We’ve already seen with the Obamacare data hub and the significant delays that have been associated with it,” he said. “Government auditors have raised concerns about maintaining timelines and implementation and whether the data hub can be implemented in a secure manner that ensures Americans’ medical and financial records aren’t at risk.”

Others have warned that the database is vulnerable to abuse by the numerous government agencies involved, including the IRS, the Department of Homeland Security, state Medicaid databases, and the Social Security Administration.

The potential for social and behavioral data to be shared with government agencies is only more worrisome, Jacobs said.

“This study raises additional questions about the privacy and security implications of the federal government sharing personal health data with other organizations and entities,” he said.

.. the loons on the left were in conclave at the AFL-CIO convention , recently . The one fellow , who is the General President of the Laborers International Union of North America , or L.I.U.N.A. , put it very bluntly [clip] in putting the jackhammer to ObamaCrapCare …

.. You idiots wanted this stuff . You never even thought about the consequences of it . Now , when the tire hits the road , and you knucleheads see the unintended consequences of ObamaCrapCare , you want , or try to get special treatment , while the rest of us are stuck with it . Tough cookies . When the ObamaCraps finally admit defeat , and evetually they will have to (once the political cost continues to rise , sky high) , they will finally have to deal with the Republicans . It will be likely with a united GOP House and GOP – controlled Sentate . You reap what you sow ! …

.. Jake Tapper , as is his wont , likes to zing his subjects subtly . Well , he did it a little less so in this [clip] against POTUS and his crew …

… Jake is an excellent wordsmith . His talents are going to waste at C.N.N. . Eventually , I think , he will see the light , and , as they say , cross over the media ‘ s “river Jordan,” and move on to FoxNews …

.. the way that things are going , the idiots in the ObamaCrap Administration are going to reach a point of No Return : they are going to be forced to admit that what they have created will not work .

.. The unions are complaining like hell . The AFL – CIO is realizing that the blowback on the insurance plans is going to hit their members , more than anyone else . Also , the “Cadillac Tax” on the higher – end plans is chiefly going to hit them . The influence that these loons have with the ObamaCraps have is considerable . Whether it will convince the ObamaCrap Administration to go back to the start things all over again is something else .

.. The ObamaCraps do not want to reopen ObamaCrapCare . First , it would be an enormous defeat , one of unimaginable magnitude . They do not control the House , the GOP does , and the concession on OCC would have conservatives in general , and the Tea Party , in particular , licking their chops . Secondly , it would likely lead to the loss of the Senate in 2014 . Many Senators up in that fall ‘ s elections have yes votes on OCC on their records . They also reside in “Red States,” ones in which either John McCain or Mitt Romney (or both) carried their states . The lack of a filibuster – proof majority in the Senate means that the Senate GOP is in the ballgame . A good number of them are likely in position to get even for being “run over” by the DemoCraps during the original OCC debate . Others are new or newer , such as Mike Lee (Ut) , Tim Scott (SC) , and Ted Cruz(Tx) , who are either Tea Party supported , or are Tea Partiers themselves .

.. The GOP would demand a high price for any renegotiation . One point is that the use of H.S.A.s would have to be greatly liberalized . H.S.A.s would put consumers back in the ballgame in terms of economics , and their participation would be anthema to the ObamaCraps . Another point would be medical malpractice tort – reform . The strength of the plaintiff ‘ s bar prevented any action to go after any semblance of tort reform in the original debate . Obama would act as a brake , but the GOP would act to force the plaintiff ‘ s bar to come to the table . There are other items , but these would be the best places to start .

.. The market in health insurance has to be able to work . OCC almost totally prevents it from working . The idiots in Congress have a habit of forgeting that when they pass legislation that there are unintended consequences of the changes that their legislation will make in the law . Some can be foreseen , will the resort to simple logic and foresight . Others cannot , and have to dealt with as best is possible .

.. This one is another classic , where the eminent Dr. Charles takes apart POTUS and his cast of idiots [link]

.. text —

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s recent op-ed in the New York Times is what you get from an American inept foreign policy, Charles Krauthammer said Thursday night.

“Well, these are the fruits of a completely incompetent, epically incompetent foreign policy,” Krauthammer said in his regular panel appearance on Special Report. He argued that the op-ed by Putin, whom he called “a KGB thug,” served as an “index” of how badly Obama has been “played.”

“What we’re seeing here is Putin so confident of himself after Obama had to acquiesce to this face-saving negotiation that he could actually engage in this,” Krauthammer said.

.. at least , for now , our nation ‘ s capital has come to its senses .

.. The Mayor of Washington , D.C. , Vincent Grey , has vetoed the so — called “living wage” bill . Thanks be to God for that . At least someone around the capital has tried to study basic economics , as well as constitutional law .

.. Wal-mart is a corporation , yes . However , under the law , it is considered a person . What that means is that these “persons” also have constitutional rights , as well as real flesh-and-blood people . In this case , besides the protections for the private obligation of contract , is what is known as a “bill of attainder . ”

.. In our constitution , you cannot punish someone (a person , or a corporation) without due process [procedural and substantive] of law . The use of a Bill of Attainder denies a person that right . The D.C. living wage law is a Bill of Attainder , because it is specifically targeted at one company .

.. The D.C. City Council may want to override . They may even have the votes to override . But , are they that crazy to do so ? Do they want to waste tax money on the damage verdict that will result from a court case . WalMart has the resources to fight , and Mayor Grey is willing to help them .

District Mayor Vincent C. Gray vetoed legislation Thursday that would force the city’s largest retailers to pay a super-minimum wage to their workers, ending two months of uncertainty over the controversial bill’s fate and setting up a decisive override vote at the D.C. Council as early as Tuesday.

The debate over the bill, the Large Retailer Accountability Act, has polarized local leaders while garnering national attention and putting focus on the low wages many retail chains pay their workers.

Gray (D) announced his veto in a letter to Council Chairman Phil Mendelson delivered Thursday morning that explained his opposition to the bill and disclosed his intention to seek a minimum-wage hike for all employers, not just large retailers.

Mendelson said he was “disappointed” by the mayor’s decision, which he said is “not good for workers.”

In the letter, Gray said the bill was “not a true living-wage bill, because it would raise the minimum wage only for a small fraction of the District’s workforce.” He added the bill is a “job-killer,” citing threats from Wal-Mart and other retailers that they will not locate to the city if the bill becomes law.

“If I were to sign this bill into law, it would do nothing but hinder our ability to create jobs, drive away retailers, and set us back on the path to prosperity for all,” he said.

Gray did not say what minimum wage he would seek except that there should be a “reasonable increase.”

The bill would require retailers with corporate sales of $1 billion or more and operating District stores of at least 75,000 square feet to pay their employees a “living wage” — no less than $12.50 an hour in combined wages and benefits. The proposal includes an exception for employers who collectively bargain with their employees, and existing employers have four years to come into compliance under the law.

The city’s existing minimum wage is $8.25 an hour. The bill would raise the annual earnings of a full-time employee making the lowest legally permissible wage from about $17,000 to $26,000.

While the bill’s supporters repeatedly insisted it was not targeted at Wal-Mart, the debate was inextricably tied to the retail giant’s plans, announced in late 2010, to open as many as six stores in the city in the coming months and years.

The union exemption and square-footage requirement rankled Wal-Mart officials, who said those provisions created an uneven playing field — particularly with respect to the unionized grocery chains they plan to compete with in the city.

Wal-Mart spokesman Steven Restivo called the veto “good news for D.C. residents,” saying Gray chose “jobs, economic development and common sense over special interests.”

Restivo said the company will move forward with its first stores in the District: “We look forward to finishing the work we started in the city almost three years ago.”

Wal-Mart’s entry into the city has prompted a political identity crisis for many elected officials, forced to reconcile their liberal, pro-union sentiments with the desire to create jobs and better retail options for their constituents.

Key council members, including Mendelson (D) and Business Affairs Committee chair Vincent B. Orange (D-At Large), were unabashed in support of the bill, giving it momentum that similar measures had lacked in prior council terms.

But Gray made no secret in recent months that, for him, jobs and retail took priority.

Wal-Mart’s entry into the city was an early political coup for Gray, and he personally lobbied — some say threatened — top company executives to commit to a store at the Skyland Town Center development not far from Gray’s home in Ward 7.

The Skyland store is among those Wal-Mart has threatened to abandon should the living-wage bill become law. The developer of the project, Gary D. Rappaport, has said the project cannot move forward at this time without Wal-Mart’s commitment.

If the council fails to override the veto, Restivo said, “all stores are back on.”

Gray gave little indication in recent weeks that he was seriously entertaining signing the bill. His deputy mayor for planning and economic development, Victor L. Hoskins, warned after the council vote that the bill would devastate the city’s retail development efforts, and his communications staff shared letters urging a veto — and none encouraging him to sign it. In interviews, Gray was quick to cite arguments against the bill but rarely acknowledged supporters’ point of view.

The coalition of labor unions, city clergy and progressive political activists backing the bill have over the past six weeks canvassed neighborhoods and held media events in hopes of pressuring Gray into signing the bill. Wal-Mart and other large retailers, they argued, could pay their workers better wages without significantly harming their bottom lines.

Some said they considered Wal-Mart’s ultimatum a bluff; others said they would rather see the retailer walk away than accept its “poverty wages.” Wal-Mart has pushed back on the notion that its wages are considerably less than other retailers, saying its pay would be “competitive” and accusing the grocery workers’ union of signing a contract that pays some of its members wages that would not comply with the living-wage law.

Gray’s decision sets up a final political showdown with the council, which can override the veto with a two-thirds vote within 30 days. Mendelson told his colleagues Thursday that the override vote will take place Tuesday, at the council’s first legislative meeting since giving the bill final passage in July.

An override would require the approval of nine of the council’s 13 members. The bill passed last month by an 8-5 margin, and no member has acknowledged since that their vote could change.

The District’s living wage measure has followed a nearly identical trajectory to a similar bill taken up by the Chicago city council in 2006. With Wal-Mart planning its first stores there, lawmakers passed the bill, sending it to Mayor Richard M. Daley, who vetoed it. An override vote narrowly failed.

.. if Lois Lerner and her legal counsel were intelligent , they can or should start negotiating for leniency and a plea bargain (ie , use immunity) . Right Now .

.. The U.S House Ways & Means Committee evidently has evidence , in the form of e – mails , that good ol ‘ Lois was deliberately

Seal of the United States Department of Justice (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

targeting the Tea Party – related groups . Whoops !

.. What I wonder is what in the hell is going on in the United States Department of Injustice . Those idiots at Main InJustice should have appointed a special counsel to prosecute this case , long since before now .

.. With this case , there are different parts of accountability . One is political . It means having the ObamaCraps and their flunkies being held to account for their political actions . It is abundantly clear that the ObamaCraps have their fingerprints all over this . It stinks to high heaven . The only point political that remains to me is that whether the accountability for this extends back into the ObamaCrap White House . Possible , yes , but it remains to be seen .

.. The other point of accountability is legal . People need to be held to account for their actions . If their actions were of a civil manner , then they need to be nailed in court . Sovereign immunity normally applies , but violating one ‘ s civil rights is one of the big exceptions . If people have committed criminal acts , then they need to be held to account for their acts . They need to be held to account by a special counsel . Political pressure can be applied , so that if a U.S. Attorney picks up the ball , they can be protected . Also , no ObamaCrap flunkies dare not need apply . None of them would have credibility at all . Period .

.. the e – mails were uncovered by the staff of the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee , but the Wall Street Journal editorial page puts it best …

Congress’s investigation into the IRS targeting of conservatives has been continuing out of the Syria headlines, and it’s turning up news. Emails unearthed by the House Ways and Means Committee between former Director of Exempt Organizations Lois Lerner and her staff raise doubts about IRS claims that the targeting wasn’t politically motivated and that low-level employees in Cincinnati masterminded the operation.

In a February 2011 email, Ms. Lerner advised her staff—including then Exempt Organizations Technical Manager Michael Seto and then Rulings and Agreements director Holly Paz—that a Tea Party matter is “very dangerous,” and is something “Counsel and [Lerner adviser] Judy Kindell need to be in on.” Ms. Lerner adds, “Cincy should probably NOT have these cases.”

That’s a different tune than the IRS sang in May when former IRS Commissioner Steven Miller said the agency’s overzealous enforcement was the work of two “rogue” employees in Cincinnati. When the story broke, Ms. Lerner suggested that her office had been unaware of the pattern of targeting until she read about it in the newspaper. “So it was pretty much we started seeing information in the press that raised questions for us, and we went back and took a look,” she said in May.

Earlier this summer, IRS lawyer Carter Hull, who oversaw the review of many Tea Party cases and questionnaires, testified that his oversight began in April 2010. Tea party cases under review are “being supervised by Chip Hull at each step,” Ms. Paz wrote to Ms. Lerner in a February 2011 email. “He reviews info from TPs, correspondence to TPs etc. No decisions are going out of Cincy until we go all the way through the process with the c3 and c4 cases here.” TP stands for Tea Party, and she means 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.

The emails also put the targeting in the context of the media and Congressional drumbeat over the impact of conservative campaign spending on the 2012 elections. On July 10, 2012 then Lerner-adviser Sharon Light emailed Ms. Lerner a National Public Radio story on how outside money was making it hard for Democrats to hold their Senate majority.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had complained to the Federal Election Commission that conservative groups like Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity should be treated as political committees, rather than 501(c)(4)s, which are tax-exempt social welfare groups that do not have to disclose their donors.

“Perhaps the FEC will save the day,” Ms. Lerner wrote back later that morning.

That response suggests Ms. Lerner’s political leanings, and it also raises questions about Ms. Lerner’s intentions in a separate email exchange she had when an FEC investigator inquired about the status of the conservative group the American Future Fund. The FEC and IRS don’t have the authority to share that information under section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code. But the bigger question is why did they want to? After the FEC inquiry, the American Future Fund also got a questionnaire from the IRS.

Ms. Lerner famously invoked her right against self-incrimination rather than testify under oath to Congress. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee reported this summer that its investigation had found Ms. Lerner had sent official IRS documents to her personal email account, and many questions remain unanswered. Democrats want to pretend the IRS scandal is over, but Ms. Lerner’s role deserves much more exposure.

.. it is abundantly obvious that by their actions , the city fathers of Richmond , California , have not . They have chosen to completely ignore California ‘ s constitution , as well as the U.S. Constitution .

.. These numbskulls want to intervene in a private proceeding : that being between a homeowner and their mortgage banker . The mortgage in question is what is called “underwater,” or that the value of the home is less than that of the relevant mortgage . What the city wants to do is seize it , take it away from the bank [forcing it to take a loss] , and work through another private party (with political connections , of course) to issue the homeowner a new mortgage at a reduced value , thus placing the mortgage possibly “above water.” The issuer would be the new holder , and would make a killing from the added interest , plus the added fees . nice stunt .

.. No , not so nice . These mortgages would not be “insured” into the secondary market , so that the issuer could get money to try to repeat the stunt . The city of Richmond obviously does not have the scratch , and is being used for its use of its eminent domain power . How gross of an abuse of power do you all think that this is ?

.. Big time . The banks are not all that popular , I will grant you that . That is for sure . They are considered people , and their investors are most certainly people . These folks have rights , and their constitutional rights have been damaged . The courts are real lunatic out there in CA , but they are not that loonie , at least that I would think . Also , the U.S. Supreme Court would come down on them , and hard . There is no way in hell that this action would stand .

With this week’s vote by Richmond’s city council to press ahead with an effort its mayor claims will help homeowners avoid foreclosure and fend off blight, the dispute between the northern California oil refinery town and Wall Street moved today to the federal courthouse in San Francisco.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer is hearing arguments from both sides on whether to order the city to halt efforts to use eminent domain to take over loans. He will also consider the city’s request to find that the bondholders went to court prematurely and dismiss their claims because the city council hasn’t approved the plan.

A ruling favoring bondholders, who sued the city through their bank trustees, would dissuade other cities from following in Richmond’s footsteps, said Dan Schechter, a law professor at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. A decision for Richmond won’t encourage other municipalities to follow suit because it wouldn’t deal directly with the merits of bondholders’ claims that the Richmond plan is unconstitutional, he said.

“The court will hold that no injunctive relief is available at this time. That doesn’t mean the bondholders are without remedy,” Schechter said by phone. “If no injunction is issued, it would preserve the status quo.”

Troubled Mortgages

The city council voted at about 2 a.m. yesterday to move forward with a program to reduce the principal on troubled mortgages. Under the plan proposed by Steven Gluckstern’s Mortgage Resolution Partners LLC, the city would seize the loans and refinance them, providing borrowers with built-in equity, to avert foreclosures.

San Francisco-based Mortgage Resolution Partners would provide services and arrange for private investment funds that would profit by buying the loans for less than property values.

The company is shopping around the plan to several communities; Richmond is the only one to pursue the plan, City Manager Bill Lindsay told the council Sept. 10.

The city’s plan violates constitutional protections for private contracts, interstate commerce and the taking of private property for public use without just compensation, according to complaints filed by Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), Deutsche Bank AG and Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (BK) on behalf of investors that hold bonds backed by the Richmond mortgages.

Banks’ Attorney

“If Richmond is allowed to proceed, other local governments would likely follow suit, with the result that losses across residential mortgage backed securities trusts and their investors would exceed billions of dollars,” Rocky Tsai, an attorney for the banks, said in a court filing.

The Wells Fargo lawsuit is “harassment,” and an injunction should be rejected because the city council hasn’t voted to use eminent domain, and even if it did, the banks could fight back in the court that will decide matters in the seizure proceeding, Scott Kronland, an attorney for the city, said in court filings.

“The parade of horribles the banks invoke are unfounded,”he said.

The cases are Wells Fargo Bank v. City of Richmond, 13-3663, and Bank of New York Mellon v. City of Richmond, 13-3664, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

.. Our society has become more secular . However , our religious freedoms here in the United States are enshrined in our Constitution , and they are defended fiercely ,. Others act just as others seek to enshrine secularism here in the U.S. . In Canada , things are , I am afraid , much different .

.. The Human Rights law (along with the dreaded Human Rights Commission) is acting to dilute Canada ‘ s long tradition of religious freedom . Those who are traditionalists are attacked , legally and politically , to the point of public ostracism and financial ruin . The federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms is still relatively new . It was also brought back to Ottawa by a largely secularlist Liberal government , and many of its decisions lean more towards not protecting religion and freedom . Canada has a very long way to go , and this battle is not going to help one bit .

You can pretend it’s about secularism, but it demonstrably is not. How could it be when public servants would still be allowed to wear religious symbols, albeit subject to a random determination of “ostentation.” What does a crucifix on a chain signify except — to some degree, anyway — “I’m Christian”? For all anyone knows it could mean “I’m culturally Christian but not much else,” or “I’m very Christian indeed and I think you should be too and here take this pamphlet” — and by the same token, neither a kippa nor a hijab nor a turban offers any useful insight into the level of its wearer’s devotion or evangelism. I could put on a kippa or crucifix right now and it wouldn’t mean a damn thing.

QUEBEC — A tiny crucifix around the neck is fine and so is a small ring with the star of David or a little earring with a religious symbol.

But the Quebec government of Premier Pauline Marois proposes to prohibit the wearing of “overt and conspicuous” religious symbols by government employees — from judges right down to a day care worker.

And it wants to make it mandatory to have one’s face uncovered while providing or receiving a state service.

Quebec will also try to shield its new Charter of Quebec Values from legal challenges by entrenching the concept of religious neutrality in the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The whole package will be included in a bill to be tabled this fall in the National Assembly, Democratic Institutions Minister Bernard Drainville said Tuesday, tabling the Parti Québécois government’s long-awaited proposal to create Quebec’s first-ever Charter of Values.

nosvaleurs.gouv.qc.caAn image released by the Quebec government showing, top three, “non-ostentatious” religious symbols that could be worn by public employees, and, bottom five images, “ostentatious” symbols that would be banned under the charter.

“The time has come to rally around our common values,” Drainville said at a news conference Tuesday. “They define who we are. Let’s be proud of them.”

Long-awaited and the subject of several leaks, Drainville’s proposal was surprisingly detailed, including graphics showing the kinds of religious symbols the government will allow for its employees.

Defining what is conspicuous could rapidly become a problem but the government plan does not include a formal measuring system.

For example, regulations to apply Quebec’s French Language Charter include a definition of what Quebec considers “marked predominance” on letters on signs.

But while the package does not address that question, the measures are, however, sweeping. If adopted, Quebec will “limit” the wearing of conspicuous symbols by state employees from the top down.

That includes personnel with power to impose sanctions, such as judges, prosecutors, police officers and correctional agents. Public and private daycare workers would have the same restrictions as would school board personnel in the elementary and high school system, plus in CEGEPs and universities.

The same goes in the public health and social services networks.

But as foreseen, Quebec plans to proceed softly down the path of state secularism by allowing for opting out.

In the case of CEGEPs, universities and municipalities, the board of directors or municipal council could adopt a resolution allowing its personnel to wear religious symbols.

“This authorization would be valid for a period of up to five years and renewable,” the government’s documents state. “It would not apply to the obligation of having one’s face uncovered.”

Making the pitch for the measures, Drainville said the package is based on fundamental Quebec values, including the equality of men and women.

“The time has come for us to rally around clear rules and common values which will put an end to tensions and misunderstandings,” Drainville said in a statement.

“Our proposals will be a source of better understanding, harmony and cohesion for all Quebecers, regardless of their religion or origin.”

Just for the sake of argument, let’s pretend for a minute that those who think they’ve read Marois’s tea leaves are right, and that the PQ and Quebecers generally are just fine with Jews wearing kippas and Sikhs wearing turbans, so long as they are otherwise good Quebecers. Let’s accept that Marois is really just trying to find a way to free Muslim girls from the oppression of patriarchal family traditions and honour culture. Could she find a stupider way of doing it?

The giant crucifix above Montreal’s Mount Royal — and the one above the Speaker’s chair of the legislature — will be spared under the logic that they are integral to Quebec’s cultural history: “The crucifix is there to stay, in the name of history, in the name of heritage,” Drainville said.

Employees who wear a visible crucifix, however, will have to tuck them away. As would those wearing hijabs, burkas, kippas, veils and turbans.

Drainville grappled with questions about other inconsistencies.

Would elected officials be subject to this? No, he replied, arguing that people have a right to choose their representative. Which means that people could, in theory, elect a cabinet minister or premier with a hijab — who would then force employees to remove theirs.

Would elected officials and courtroom witnesses in this staunchly secular state continue to swear an oath on that most non-secular of documents, the Bible? Drainville appeared caught off-guard by the question: “Oh, my God,” he replied, slowly, “we’ll get back to you.”

Earlier, Drainville symbolically turned over copies of the proposal to Marois in a staged photo opportunity at her office.

The product of five years of internal debate in the PQ, the charter was a key element in the party’s election platform as it tried to make mileage off the identity card.

But it was the subject of instant criticism as a proposal that would divide Quebec and might even be unconstitutional. Marois has said she believes the plan will be legal and Quebec will not need to invoke the notwithstanding clause to override the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Polls, on the other hand, showed Quebecers in favour of the package, fuelling the PQ’s drive to charge ahead.

The government’s failure to cash in on the other identity issue of the platform, beefing up the French Language Charter, provided further incentive.

At a PQ caucus meeting in Carleton-sur-mer two weeks ago, Marois said the values charter would be one of the government’s three policy pillars this fall.

Drainville, on the other hand, has said he plans to go slowly and wants a serene debate.

He plans to hold public consultations but not in the same form as the Bouchard-Taylor commission, which roamed the province, sparking clashes and nasty headlines.

Drainville plans to borrow a system Diane De Courcy used to consult Quebecers on Bill 14: Quebecers will be invited to submit their opinion online.

In that way, Drainville can avoid costs and criticism from the Liberals and the Coalition Avenir Québec that the PQ is using taxpayer money to pay for what amounts to a pre-election campaign swing through the province.

But the issue will collide with Quebec’s electoral schedule as the days of Marois’ minority government run down.

In that case, the bill may never be passed.

It requires the support of the Liberals and Coalition Avenir Québec. So far the CAQ has been the most open to discussion, presenting a similar package which does not go quite so far.

The Liberals, however, favour open secularism, which means while they believe the state should be neutral, they do not want to see religious headgear and symbols banned.

The values charter poses a dilemma for federal politicians, notably the New Democrats under Tom Mulcair, who count on Quebecers for support.

“Mme. Marois has a plan, has an agenda, she’s trying to play divisive identity politics because it seems to be the only thing that is able to distract from the serious economic challenges that we’re facing as a province and as a country,” he said.

“Quebecers will…. push back very hard at this charter that is aiming at dividing people rather than building a better future for all,” Trudeau said.

Federal parties have had to grapple with how to respond to the values charter, in the face of what appears to be significant support for the concept in certain areas of the province.

Montreal mayoral candidates Denis Coderre and Marcel Cote were also unsparing in their criticism.

.. Canada and its society are notorious for being politically correct . Their so – called “Human Rights ” law and the Human Rights Commission have become infamous for enforcing a level of political correctness that we here in the U.S. would never tolerate . Yet , the PQ (parti Quebecois) is going to push ahead with this dreadful bill .

.. First , the minority government must stand for election . If the PQ wins a majority , then you can expect the new PQ government to go for the bill , no matter what . It will then become the Canadian government ‘ s call (from Ottawa) . The federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms most certainly does not allow this level of religious discrimination . However , the provincial government may bounce off of that , and still do it anyway …

… from the National Post …

The Christian exemptions to Quebec’s proposed secular Charter of Values — which would allow the crucifix to remain in the National Assembly, the cross to remain on Mount Royal, and Christmas trees to remain in provincial government buildings — are based on the controversial idea that some religious symbols have become purely secular.

Just as the Christmas tree grew from pagan origins to signify the birth of Jesus, the theory goes that now, in modern post-Catholic Quebec, it merely reflects the secular culture of holidays and gift-giving — “part of Quebec culture,” as the minister responsible for the Charter, Bernard Drainville, said Tuesday.

“We will recognize elements of our heritage that bear witness to our history,” he said of the tree, and the cross.

These exemptions are “certainly going to strike people as hypocritical,” said Paul Bramadat, director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria.

“If the leaders of Quebec society are seeking to exclude from the public and political arenas all historically deep references to religious identity, then it stands to reason that the crucifix would need to be removed, too, not to mention the cross on the top of Mt. Royal,” he said.

Mark Mercer, professor of philosophy at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, said he is “appalled” by the proposals, and objects to the idea of defining symbols merely by their origins, rather than their current significance to the people who use them.

“What I object to is just taking the origin of things as necessarily part of them to the people who use those things today. I think that’s just misguided,” he said. He cited a criminal cross-burning case in Nova Scotia, which recalled the explicitly racist symbolism of Ku Klux Klan, but raised the vexing question of whether burning a cross, by itself, expresses racial hatred, simply because of the symbol’s history.

Francis Vachon for National Post/FilesA Christmas tree in front of Quebec’s National Assembly in 2008. A controversy erupted when the government referred to it as a “celebration tree.”

“There’s the origin, and it’s always tainted by its origin,” he said, but it is wrong to think a symbol always “retains the aspect of their origin.”

Christmas trees and crucifixes raise similar problems. “The province itself, as a legitimate, authoritative political entity, can do things like declare that, for the province, [a symbol] does not have religious significance… We accept that sort of thing all over the place. Remember, [in hockey] a goal isn’t scored just when a puck crosses the line. The goal isn’t scored until the referee raises his arm. Is it a goal? Depends what the referee says. Same thing. Is the Christmas tree a religious symbol?” he said, and quoted a baseball umpire to the effect that, “It ain’t nothing until I call it.”

The issue is already familiar to the courts. Justin Trottier, a prominent secularist activist with the Centre for Inquiry, said that 28 city councils in Ontario still begin sessions with the Lord’s Prayer, and only three or four have voluntarily complied with a court ruling that this is unconstitutional.

He also said a push was on for a Supreme Court of Canada review of a recent Quebec case, in which a mayor’s use of Christian prayer in Saguenay was judged to not violate the state’s religious neutrality.

Quebec is not the first jurisdiction to face these deep problems of the modern relevance of historical state religion. A landmark case in the United States Supreme Court, for example, divided the judges on the issue of whether a Pittsburgh courthouse could display a nativity scene, a Christmas tree, and a menorah. In the end, despite broad dissent, the tree and the menorah were in, and the nativity was out.

On such a fraught issue as religious faith in the secular state, however, the law offers only limited guidance.

“The discomfort people have with removing the crucifix reflects the deep roots of religion, and its signs and symbols, in the tastes, smells, practices, norms, habits and feelings of many even thoroughly secular people,” Prof. Bramadat said.

“Those staunch secularists who want to leave the crucifix alone because, well, removing it would ‘feel wrong’ and the National Assembly would ‘look wrong,’ might want to think about the emotional effect on Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and observant Christians who are now being asked to stop wearing symbols that are both personally meaningful and indicative of long, complex systems of meaning and purpose.”

… items from Toronto ‘ s Globe and Mail …

[link] — consequences of the proposed charter , except that they forgot one : it applies , evidently , to the private sector , too …

[link] — an editorial of the paper , greatly criticizing the proposal , that it cuts off the province from its heritage and its tradition of religious tolerance …

chrome and steel bikes stretched about a third of a mile from the starting point at the Harley Davidson of Washington store just outside the District in Prince George’s County.

The bikers began departing from the store at about 10:30 in staggered groups of 50, stopped for traffic lights and taking an hour or so to get on the road.

The ride was complicated by the fact that federal and local authorities denied a permit that would have offered the riders a police escort through traffic — a sore spot with organizers who thought the denial was for political purposes.

“We’re here for 9-11,” said national ride coordinator Belinda Bee. “We are going to have a peaceful ride. … But there are people who are sick and tired of their rights and liberties being taken away.”

The National Park Service has denied any political motivation for refusing the permit, which ride organizers sought last month. The Park Service earlier this year granted a permit to a Muslim group planning a rally Wednesday to call attention to social justice issues.

The American Muslim Political Action Committee has scheduled a rally to draw attention to what they call unfair fear of Muslims after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Ms. Bee said the ride was originally set up to counter the rally and show respect for the victims of that day.

Dan O’Brien, 54, of Mansfield, Ohio, said he had been “looking for a ride like this” to honor the Sept. 11 victims, but the rally also spurred him to join.

LEC here — the bikers did a nice job . Peaceful , reverent , and decent . Also , they nailed the Muslim extremists protesting on the National Mall right where they deserved to be hit …. in the court of Public Opinion ! Well Done !

.. especially the video link that is contained in the article . The interstate involved in this sequence is , I am willing to guess , is I – 295 , in suburban Maryland . The heavy forestation would place it just south of the District , before the Capital Beltway [I – 495] , near the new Woodrow Wilson bridge that crosses the Potomac River valley into Virginia . It is impressive , and has thousands of bikers heading into the District . For obvious reasons , the police has cleared the highway , so it is all bikers , and lots of them ………

.. Even New York City has a limit on patience for the antics of politicians and their peccadilieos . Corlourful politicians are not

… bye , bye Elliot !! …(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

uncommon in N.Y.C. , but this much ? The answer , thankfully , is no , no thank you , and better yet , go away , for good .

.. Both those two idiots lost in their Democratic party primaries last night in New York City [Spitzer for City Comptroller (paymaster) , Weiner for , of course , Mayor] .

.. the Big Apple is likely , barring a miracle , heading to the left . Bill de Blasio , the current Public Advocate , is likely to be the Democratic nominee for mayor . His GOP opponent is likely to be former NY MTA transit union head Joe Lhota . de Blasio will be , as you might think , be favoured in the general election , but it will be no walkover . Lhota will likely draw significant support for Latinos and Blacks , as well as Jews , Ethnics , and the working class (for obvious reasons) . de Blasio will have to work for it , and if he is smart , he should work his fanny off .

.. Only winning 40% of the vote (and , barely , at that) in the Democratic primary is not a ringing endorsement from your own party . If he is not careful , the other candidates ‘ supporters may well cross over to Lhota , or just stay home . NYP and NYS will endorse Lhota . Newsday as well . NYDN endorsement will be helpful . Also , minority papers in jewish and black communities , such as Queens and Harlem , will be vital . NYT will endorse the Dem , but he should not court it . Lhota can use it as a “billy club” against him with the GOP and the working class voters that hate the Times ‘ guts .

… bye – bye , Carlos !! … (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At least , for now , we will not have to put up with the likes of these two characters for a long , long time .

.. Colorado State Senate President John Morse and one of his chief henchwomen , State Senator Angela Giron , were recalled tonight from office .

.. Even better , they were both replaced , I believe , with Republicans . Not sure on who yet . More on that later . Not sure on the partisan flip in the Colorado Senate , yet , but it should help , at least …

.. update — It changes the partisan layout to 18 to 17 , from 20 to 15 . One more seat changes hands (hopefully by recall , or in a by – election) , and the GOP grabs the Colorado Senate …

[-] keep the threat of military action on the table — it has to stay there . If he agrees to take it off , then …

[-] learn to play chess — the strategic thinking that is required to play chess at a high level will teach him some things . Like , how

Vladimir Putin – Caricature (Photo credit: DonkeyHotey)

Putin is playing him for a fool , and why ?!?!

[-] change the responsible party for the chem weapons — you really want to give the responsible party for disarmament to Russia ? Are you nuts ? The U.N. is hardly any better . Anyone think that Assad has been taking notes from Sadly Insane on his monkeyshines in Iraq , especially with a DemoCrap semi – wus [Clinton] in the White House ..

[-] keep the U.S. Navy on station in the eastern Med — Syria is a coastal nation . Make Lebanon understand that even an attempt to lock on any , repeat ANY U.S. aircraft will be met with instant retaliation , and the relevant missiles and radar batteries will cease to exist , no matter where they are located …

[-] put a date certain for compliance , and make it reasonably short — do not let Assad and Putin play anymore diplomatic stalling tactics , well , anymore than they have already . They will try . For once , do not be a wus . Stand up to them .

[-] keep DarkStars , Predators , and other drones on station , observing what is going on — if locked on , see third item for what will happen if they do so …

.. In one of the most deft diplomatic maneuvers of all time , Vladimir Putin has saved the world from near-certain disaster. He did

Putin Red Machine (Photo credit: AZRainman)

so without the egoistical , narcissistic , and incompetent POTUS . or his fair haired SecState JohnBoy . Vlad played the diplomatic chessboard with the skill of an international grand chessmaster .

.. Those two (POTUS & JohnBoy) were so clueless , they did not even realize they had been played to a tee . They did so , even realizing they had been offered a way out of the mess they’d created.

.. Secretary JohnBoy Kerry made an off-hand comment that the only way an American attack would be called off is if the Syrians turn over all their chemical weapons to an international body. Then he added, “but that isn’t going to happen.” The words were hardly out of his mouth when Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov essentially said, “we can live with that,” and the Syrian Foreign Minister chimed in with “we can, too.”

.. It tells you how stupid and clueless Foggy Bottom is when they come up with a response that is even worse . Meanwhile, State dismissed it, saying Kerry didn’t really mean what he said . JohnBoy said that it was just a “rhetorical” answer to a hypothetical question . It was as if Team Obama couldn’t take “yes” for an answer.

.. So, in stepped Miz Hillary . She ended up looking like the only adult in a room full of diplomatic kids . Hillary said that the Kerry Proposal made sense.

Well, that got POTUS ‘ attention ! The president, never one to let a crisis go to waste, told journalists that the proposal was something he and Putin had discussed at the G-20 Summit last week.

.. WRONG !

.. Does anyone really think that Obama is capable of such strategic insight ? i do not !

.. The fact is , POTUS seemed headed for an attack on Syria that no one wanted and few thought would succeed. Most thought it would only end in disaster, either with the U.S. drawn into an attack/retaliation cycle of escalation that could go on for years and spread into a regional war, or result in the overthrow of President Assad by an Al Qaeda affiliated rebels.

.. Vlad would have loved to see the U.S. stuck in another Middle East mess . However , this one is right on Israel ‘ s doorstep . While the Russians may have toyed with the idea of letting American get bogged down in yet another losing Middle East war, they didn’t want to risk a war (with Israeli retaliation) that could pull them into the maelstrom . They could potentially lose control of the Assad government to radical Sunni jihadists.

So Putin stepped in and threw Obama a lifeline.

.. Putin is the real chessmaster here . He has a fairly good idea of what strategic thinking is , and how to use it . Obama ? Hardly !

..Te world knows that Vladimir Putin is the one who really deserves that Nobel Peace Prize.

It turns out that leading from behind left a big opening up front. Putin stepped right in. And Obama still hasn’t figured it out. He cannot , because he has no idea what is going on , or why . Duhhh!!

Russia is stepping up weapons supplies to Syria’s President Bashar Assad, to help him prevail in the civil war, as part of the arrangements under which the Assad regime has agreed in principle to have its chemical weapons stockpiles placed under international supervision, Israel television reported on Tuesday night.

Negotiations between Russia and Syria on the supervision arrangement, which seem to have drastically reduced the likelihood of

… fishy !! …

US-led military intervention in Syria, have been ongoing for two full weeks, and have also involved Iran, the Israeli Channel 2 report said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, determined to ensure that his ally Assad not face a punitive US-led strike following Damascus’s alleged use of chemical weapons in an August 21 attack that the US says killed over 1,400 Syrians, essentially ordered Assad to submit to international oversight of his chemical weapons stocks, the report said.

In return, Putin promised bolstered conventional weapons shipments, “some of which are already on their way” to Syria from the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The TV report did not specify which weaponry Putin is supplying to Assad, but noted that the Syrian regime needs more fighter planes for use to quash rebel forces, spare parts for tanks, and all kinds of other military equipment to replenish stocks depleted during the two-and-a-half years of fighting that have left well over 100,000 Syrians dead. An estimated 1,600 Syrians have died in the three weeks since the alleged August 21 attack.

Last summer, Russia said it would not deliver weapons including 24 MiG-29 fighter jets ordered by the Syrian Air Force until the Syrian crisis ended. But in May, Russian officials said a Syrian delegation was in Moscow to discuss a new contract to supply combat aircraft.

Putin said late Tuesday that he hoped “our Syrian friends will make the appropriate decision with respect to transferring the chemical weapons to the control of the international community, and to joining the treaty preventing the proliferation of chemical weapons.”

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, who has been in Moscow this week, was quoted Tuesday saying Syria would indeed open all relevant sites to UN inspectors, would not produce chemical weapons, and would sign all relevant treaties.

“We fully support Russia’s initiative concerning chemical weapons in Syria, and we are ready to cooperate. As a part of the plan, we intend to join the Chemical Weapons Convention,” he said in an interview with the Lebanon-based Al-Maydeen TV.

“We are ready to fulfill our obligations in compliance with this treaty, including through the provision of information about our chemical weapons. We will open our storage sites, and cease production. We are ready to open these facilities to Russia, other countries and the United Nations.”

“We intend to give up chemical weapons altogether,” he added.

US President Barack Obama said in a series of TV interviews Monday that a deal that ensured Syria was unable to again use chemical weapons would “absolutely” roll the crisis back from the brink. His Secretary of State John Kerry warned Tuesday, however, that such a deal had to be “measureable, tangible” and speedy. “If we choose not to act, we’ll be sending a message to Iran of American ambivalence, American weakness,” the secretary noted.

Israel’s former foreign minister, Avigdor Liberman, indicated Tuesday a similar concern. Speaking against the background of the negotiations that were apparently pushing off any US-led strike on Assad’s regime, Liberman, the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, noted that, where Iran’s nuclear program was concerned, Israel “will have to deal with it on our own.”

.. Secretary of State JohnBoy Kerry says something off-the-kuff , and then , all of a sudden , it becomes policy ? Who the hell is minding the store ?

.. It sure as hell is not POTUS . He thinks that he is smarter than everybody else , and no one can keep up with him . Well , try

Vladimir Putin – Caricature (Photo credit: DonkeyHotey)

again , Barack ! You are playing tiddly winks , and Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] is playing diplomatic chess . Guess who is winning ?

.. Putin , who else ? Vlad is no dummy . JohnBoy made a boyBlunder , and he got inside BHO ‘ s head . Putin pulled off a deft political move , making Russia more relevant on the world stage , and also making Obama look like a rank amateur , by comparison . The Aussies were right about Kevin Rudd , and I am right about BHO .

.. POTUS is an even more grandiose narcissist than Kevin Rudd ever was . What is more dangerous is that POTUS is POTUS , and does not have a clue about what he is doing on the world stage . People keep making him look like a chump , and our fellow Americans are getting tired of his act . Unfortunately , we are stuck with Obama for the next 43 months . Hopefully , he will not blunder too badly …

.. God in Heaven help us if he does . Many people will , I am afraid , get killed as a result of Obama ‘ s incompetence , both here at home , and overseas . Other nations will take note , and act accordingly …

Describing grandiose narcissism as less a psychiatric disease and more a destructive character defect, the document suggested Rudd was held together by one key strut: an absolute conviction of intellectual superiority over everyone else. “Kick out that strut and he will collapse”.

Rudd, the document went on, was vulnerable to any challenge to his self-belief that he was more widely-read, smarter and more

… the First Narcissist … (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

knowledgeable than anyone else “on the planet”. Such a condition of grandiose narcissism would make Rudd obsessively paranoid, excessively vindictive – “prepared to wait years to get revenge”.

Rudd would be threatened by a rival in any of his fields and would be obsessively paranoid and ready to retaliate to real or perceived threats; he would suffer from excessive suspicion. This could be tactically exploited, the document suggested, by promoting the idea that Rudd was merely a caretaker prime minister, to be terminated by colleagues once the election was won.

.. how does this relate to you-know-who ?

.. Easy . Barack Obama is one of the most extremely arrogant , suspicious , and paranoid political leaders that I can remember . At least Jimmy Carter and others have moral centers , save Wilhelm der Fibmeister . Clinton , for all of his moral failing (boy , were there a lot of them , that is for sure) could adapt politicallly , at least when he had to , or when certain parties got it thru his thick skull .

.. in this article (which i have requoted) , it refers to Kevin Rudd . The passage to see is the one that I am posting , or from the second paragraph above …

Rudd, the document went on, was vulnerable to any challenge to his self-belief that he was more widely-read, smarter and more knowledgeable than anyone else “on the planet”. Such a condition of grandiose narcissism would make Rudd obsessively paranoid, excessively vindictive – “prepared to wait years to get revenge”.

.. It does not take much of a stretch to take out “Rudd” and insert Barack Hussein Obama . Sound familiar ?! I thought that you would agree , too …